Speaking device



Oct. 10, 1933. J 's 1,930,426

SPEAKING DEVICE Filed Dec. 3, 1932 Z'mnentor (Ittomeg Patented Oct. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,930,426 SPEAKING DEVICE Joseph F. Fishman, New York, N. Application December 3, 1932. Serial No. 645,594

2 Claims. 1 (01. 189-5) partition is shown as having a small rectangular the passage of is effective to prevent the passage band articles from one side to the This'invention relates to speaking devices for jails and aims, among other objects, to provide a greatly'siinplified, compact and sanitary speaking device for attachment to a partition or cell wall to permit prisoners and visitors to converse. The main idea is to provide a novel arrangement of wire screens to permit the easy passage of sound and, at the same time, effectively preclude any contraband articles to a prisoner.

'Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in the specification, when considered in connection with the illustrated embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a speaking device applied to a sheet metal wall;

Fig. '2 is'a vertical sectional view; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view.

Heretofore, many different and more or less complicated types of speaking devices have been proposed for use in conjunction with modern prison installations to between visitors and prisoners. vices have tortuous passages or conduits for conducting the sound through an opening in the usual sheet metal partition wall. Others comprise more or less bulky casings having perforated walls and special baffles between the walls to preclude the passage of any articles through the perforations. This invention provides a greatly simplified speaking device which can be manufactured and installed at a very small cost and which of any contraother. Referring particularly to the drawing, there is shown a fragment of the usual partition wall 10 which in large prison installations, separates a day room from a visitors room or corridor. This opening 11 withinwhich the improved speaking device is adapted to be installed. In this example, the speaking device is composed of a multiplicity of layers of screen wire of different sizes clamped together and held in the opening by means of a pair of small rectangular frames or holders 12, preferably made of cast metal, and adapted to be secured to the wall around the margins of the speaking opening. The shape of the frames en- -ables them to be secured closely adjacent to a window frame (not shown) so that the communicants can easily see each other while they are conversing.

Each of the frames is preferably angle-shaped "in cross section at the sides and ends, presenting permit easy communication Some of the deinwardly directed marginal flanges 13 spaced from and parallel with the wall and adapted to engage the package of woven wire. To enable these frames to be removably secured on opposite sides of the wall or partition 10, they are shown as having securing flanges 14 at their opposite ends and these flanges are preferably fastened to the wall by means of Allenhead screws 15 which have special heads to prevent them from being unscrewed without a special type of wrench. The flanges 14 on the outside of the wall are shown as having countersunk holesfor the screw heads and the flanges on the opposite side of the wall are threaded to receive the screws. However, it is to be understood that other removable securing means may be employed.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the frame members or holders securelyclamp the woven wire screens between their flanges 13- on opposite sides of the opening. In this example, there are two outer layers 16 of relatively large woven wire mesh and these layers are preferably plated to make them rustproof as well as to improve their appearance. It is contemplated that the strands of these heavy layers may extend diagonally of the opening. These outer layers constitute protecting screens which are not easily out or torn out of the frames. a mat or cartridge composed principally of a multiplicity of layers 17 of smaller woven wire having a smaller mesh, preferably half the size of the large meshes and these layers may be galvanized; In this instance, there are six such layers of quarter inchmesh screen and, interspersed with them are still other layers 18 of fine mesh copper wire, three such layers of wire cloth being shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Adjacent layers of the wire cloth are shown as being separated by two layers 1'7 of the woven wire having the quarter inch mesh-and the outer layers of the wire cloth are separated from the heavy woven wires 16 by one of the layers 17 to prevent wire cloth by cutting tools and The wire cloth will not permit the passage of any small articles which might be forced through the meshes of the other screens. It will be observed that the strands of the woven wire layers 17 in the mat are staggered both ways or, first, one way and, then, the other. This is accomplished by mating the layers together before they are cut. Woven wire sheets from which the layers 17 and 18 are out are first placed upon each other and their strands nested together under pressure. That is, the protruding bent por- Between these outer layers is y tions of the strands of each of the layers 1'? are seated or nested in the meshes between the strands of the next layer 17. Incidentally, the layers 18 of fine wire cloth are distorted by the nesting 5 pressure and do not interfere with the nesting of the layers 17 on opposite sides of them. All of the nested layers are clamped, tied or wired together and cut to exact size to fit in the frames and the Wall opening. edges of the layers may be permanently wired, soldered or otherwise secured together to prevent displacement of the layers. This enables the mat or cartridge to be shipped in small package form,

and avoids the necessity of cutting and fitting 5 the layers on construction jobs.

The thickness of the mat or cartridge is not only greatly reduced by nesting the layers, but a greater number of layers may be used in the small frames and the staggered strands with the 20 interspersed layers of wire cloth effectively preclude the passage of any small contraband article or of a sharpinstrument through the mat. Further, this enables the whole device to be made very small so that it does not project an appreciable distance beyond the faces of the wall or partition. In fact, the overall thickness of the device, including the wall, may be less than two inches. 1

"When'the wire screens become clogged with debris and collect disease germs the frames may beremoved very easily'so that the whole device may be'cleaned and disinfected; This may be done by steam or by submerging the parts in a bath of disinfecting solution. Ordinary dust may be removed with a vacuum or an air hose without removing the frames. Thus, the devices will meet the most rigid sanitary requirements.

From-the foregoing description, it will be seen 4 that the improved speaking devices can bemanufactured and installed at a very reasonable cost. They are very neat inapp'earance and their shape, size and design are such that they may be in-' stalled very close to the usual glass observation 5 windows and thereby permit better vision while talking directly through them. The nested woven wire screens will prevent a sharp instrument like After the mat is cut the' an ice pick from being driven through them, because of the staggered arrangement of the strands. However, sound can pass through them without any interference, as there are no chambers. or bafiles to produce echoes or distort the sound waves.

Obviously, the present invention is not restrict ed to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and subcombinations.

What is claimed is:

1. In a speaking device adapted to be installed in a substantially rectangular speaking opening through a sheet metal partition, a plurality of rectangular layers of. woven wire having meshes of the same size pressed and nested together with their strands in staggered relation and adapted to be inserted in cartridge form within the speaking opening; rectangular frame members closely fitting the edges of said layers and having clamping flangesoverlying their opposite sidesi and means removably securing said frame memberson opposite sides of the partition and extending therethrough.

2. A speakingdevice for prisons and the like comprising, in combination, a pair of substantially rectangular frames having flanges adapted to be secured to a partition wall having a speaking opening therein; inwardly projecting clamp:

ing flanges on the frame members; outer layers of heavy woven wire of large mesh in the frames; a mat composed of a multiplicity of layers of woven wire of smaller mesh confined between the outer layers and extending through the speaking opening with their strands staggered with respect to each other; and a plurality of layers of wire cloth interspersed with said intermediate layers, all of said layers of woven wire in the mat being nested and clamped together on said wire cloth by said frames to prevent the passage of contraband articles therethrough, while permitting the free passage of sound.

JOSEPH F. FISHMAN. 

